Process for removing paint



J. P. SCHAEFER.

PROCESS FOR REMOVING PAINT. APPLICATION FILED :umzzs. 1920.

1,357,780. Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

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JQHN P. SGHAEFER- OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

PRUCESS 3GB; REMOVING PAINT.

Application filed June 26, 1920. Serial No. 392,065;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T,' JOHN P. Sormnren, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for Removing Paint, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to processes and venient and consumes a great deal of time.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved process of this character, and the necessary mechanism to carry the process into execution.

With the above, and other objects in view as will. be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of an improved process for removing paint from painted surfaces, together with certain novel details of construction and arrangements of parts in an apparatus suitable for carrying the process into operation, said process and apparatus being hereinafter fully described, illustrated. in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

in the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus suitable for carrying the process into operation.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line TI -I1 .of Fig. l.

in the apparatus herein disclosed there is provided an elongated cylindrical tank similar to the ordinary kitchen water heating boiler. but disposed wit its axis horizontal. This tank is supported at an ele vation on a suitable frame or stand 11, and is provided at the center of its upper side with a filling pipe 12 terminating at its upper end in a funnel 13 a valve 14lbeing provided to close the funnel from the pipe. A branch pipe 15 leads from the pipe 12 ain. is provided with a valved connection l6 having its end threaded as at 17 so that the specification of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 2,1920.

washing hose (not shown) may be connected thereto. Extending centrally into one end of the tank is a water supply pipe 18 provided with a shut-off valve 19. The portion of this pipe which extends into the tank 10 1s bent downward as at 19 and terminates near the bottom of the tank.

At 20 is an ordinary water heater supplied with gas through the valved pipe 21 and from this heater lead the circulating pipes 22 and 23.

In operation the valve 19 is opened as is also the valve 1.4. The tank 10 then fills with water whereupon the valve 19'is closed. The valve 14 being open about thirty pounds of sodium hydroxid are introduced through the funnel l3 and pipe 12 to the tank 10. The heater 20 is then started in operation and the water will circulate in the direction of the arrows on the pipes 22 and 23 until the entire tank is thoroughly heated. The washing hose having been connected at 17 the valves 16 and 19 are opened the valve 1% being at this time closed. The result of this is that clear fresh water is forced downward from the pipe end 19 thus stirring up the solution in the tank 10 and, since the tank is full, forcing a portion thereof up through the pipe 15 and-the hose. This hose is then used to apply the solution to the painted surface. Now owing to the peculiar arrangement of the pipe 19 there is a continuous agitation of the water in the tank and a thorough stirring and mixing results. Consequently the solution flowing from the pipe 15 and used on the painted surface gradually weakens until finally all of the solution has been forced out of the tank and only clear water flows from the pipe 15 so that the surface, from which the paint has now been .removed, is washed down with clear water.

This method of utilizing the property of sodiumhydroxid to remove paint is found by practice to be highly economical since the hard coat on the outside of the painted surface is attacked by the stronger solution while, as the paint softens under the action of the chemical. a weaker solution is used and thus economy results in the quantity ofchemical necessary. Moreover this method found by experience to greatly increase the rapidity of the operation over the method of applying the solution by hand.

There has thus been provided a simple and eliicient process and apparatus for carrying the same into execution of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

Having thus described the invention, whatis claimed as new, is,:-

1. The process of removing paint from painted surfaces which consists in preparing a bath of strong sodium-hydroxicl solution and thereinafter gradually weakening and agitating the same, the solution being applied continuously to the painted surface from its strong to its weakened state. I

2. The process of removing paint from painted surfaces which consists in preparing a bath of strong sodium-hydroxid solution in water and applying the same to the painted surface arid simultaneously and continuously injecting fresh water into said bath in such manner as to mix and weaken the bath during the entire period of application whereby a gradually weakened solution is applied to said painted surface.

3. The process of removing paint from painted surfaces which consists in preparing a bath of strong sodium-hydroxid solution 'tion is applied to said painted surface said fresh water being injected until the bath contains only clear. water and the application being continued with said clear water.

In testimony whereof I af ix my signature.

JOHN P. SCHAEFER. 

